My Cultural ExplorationBy: Chelsea Howard

FIJI

Fiji: Location Fiji is located in the southwest Pacific,

South below the equator. Fiji is known as “The Crossroads to the

Pacific”. Fiji consists of 330 islands. Only 100 of

these islands are inhabited. The rest are left alone as natural reserves.

Fijis Location:

Suva-Fiji The capitol city of Fiji is Suva Suva is known to be a beautiful Harbor

city, built on a peninsula, that reaches out to the sea.

The buildings in Suva consist of a mixture of modern designs and more natural architecture.

On one side of Suva is Laucala Bay, and Suva Harbor on the other.

Suva – Capitol City of Fiji

Fiji: Language Fiji has three official languages: English, Bau

Fijian, and Hindustani, but English is their main medium of communication.

Although people who are from Fiji do speak English, their pronunciation is still slightly different.

The Fijian culture originated from the Austronesian family of languages and, therefore, gives many different aspects to the language, but the main language is Bau Fijian.

Fiji Language

Fiji: Language (cont…) The alphabet of the Fiji language is

similar to the English alphabet, except the fact that the ‘X’ is not used, and the letters ‘H’ and ‘Z’ are rarely used.

It is said that the Fijian Language is easy for people to understand and learn.

Fiji: National Symbols The Fijian flag has a light blue

background, which symbolizes the pacific ocean.

In the upper left quadrant of the Fijian flag is the flag of the UK, and the Fijian flag in the center of the other half.

Both the flag of the UK and the Fijian flag represent the association with Fiji and Great Britain.

Fijian Flag

FIJI’s NATIONAL ANTHEM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7I_L

s05v2s--NATIONAL ANTHEM OF FIJI --

Fiji: People Fijian people are originally dark skinned

races of Melanesian origin. The eastern islands of Fiji have a large

number of Polynesians. These two races from the main portion of the Fijian people.

Other small races in Fiji include Chinese, Europeans and Micronesians.

Fiji: People (cont…) Fiji consists of about 862, 623 people,

currently.

Fiji: Religion The native population of Fiji mainly follows

Christianity. More than three-quarters of all Fijian

people are Methodist. Approximately 80% of the Indo-Fijians are

Hindu, 15% are Muslim, and most of the rest are Sikh, while most remain Christian.

Indigenous Fijians also follow traditional beliefs in spirit and ancestor worship.

Fijian People/Subcultures Fijians come from a variety of

subcultures and religious groups. As a group, they have kept many of

their cultural and religious traditions like music, dance and celebrations on religious feast days.

Fijians are very spiritual people who love to pray and study the bible.

Fijian People/Values/Beliefs/Norms The people of Fiji are said to be very

warm hearted and kind, which may be one of the reasons why Fiji is said to be such a beautiful country.

The children of Fiji are very well behaved and are socially, very cultured.

The women are usually head of the household and play a very large role in Fijian society.

Fijian People/Values/Beliefs/Norms (cont…) Many Fijian families have more than one

family living in a household. The girls in Fiji are strictly supervised,

and the boys have a lot more freedom. When it comes to marriage, although

some do still select their marriage partners, arranged marraiges are very common, especially in the rural areas.

FIJIAN TRADITIONS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlA-p

kzpcCk&list=UUFkp_KvLpBh7Ick_w1mEkfg&index=8&feature=p

--Kava Ceremony - Welcome to Fiji 3--

Fiji: Economy There are few resources the Fijian economy

depends on: Flora (plants) and Fauna (animals), Fishing and mineral resources.

There are also agricultural resources that Fiji depends on: Sugar industries, and travel and tourism.

Fiji is still a developing nation, which means their economy is also still changing and developing.

Fiji: Economy (cont…) Any Fijians were farmers, making just enough

money to support themselves. Agriculture is the traditional job for men, while

fishing and collection is that of mainly women. Young people often leave rural areas to work in

cities and towns Tobacco and sugar are two very important

crops sold in the Fijian economy. Sugar Cane Truck->

FIJIAN FISHING http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vas

gZZxBHU&feature=related--Customs And Culture Of Fiji--

Fiji: History According to Fijian Legend, the great

chief, Lutunasobasoba, led his people across the seas to the new land of Fiji.

Most authorities agree that people came into the Pacific from Southeast Asia through the Malay Peninsula.

Here the Melanesians and the Polynesians mixed to create a highly developed society, long before Europeans arrived.

What do I find interesting about the culture…? I find some of their beliefs to be very

interesting and different, and the amount of respect that the Fijian people show toward a lot of these beliefs.

Would I like to live in this culture/country? No. Although Fiji is a very beautiful

place, I would rather live here in the U.S. where I am very free.

NEPAL

Nepal Nepal is located in Southern Asia,

between China and India. Nepal is well known for the amount of

diversity that it has. The culture of Nepal includes music,

dance, art forms, literature and religions. In Nepal, there are several temples,

churches, synagogues, and Buddhist Monasteries.

Nepal: Location

Nepal (cont…) A lot of Nepals’ culture lies in its

architecture.

Kathmandu-Nepal Nepals’ capital city is Kathmandu. Kathmandu is located in the core of the

Leathmandu Valley in the Himalayan Mountains.

Nepal: Language Nepal Language has more than 120 kinds of

languages that are spoken in the country. Out of theese, three no longer exist: Kusunda,

Waling and Dula. The most common/popular Nepal Language is

Nepali. Other major languages of the country are Newari,

Awadhi, Limbu, Hindi, Mundari, Bahing and Maithili. Nepali language is also spoken in India and

Bhutan.

Nepal National Symbols The national flag of Nepal is not rectangular

like most flags of other countrys and is a combination of two banners.

It has a red with a blue border around the shape of two overlapping right triangles.

The smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon.

The larger lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun. Both these triangles bear the signs of two ruling dynasties respectively.

NEPAL’s NATIONAL ANTHEM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luTXA

ID6dFs&feature=related--Nepal National anthem Vocal--

Nepal: People The Nepal Population is currently about

28,901,790. The growth rate of the population of Nepal has

been recently recorded to be 2 percent. In Nepal 39 percent of the population are up to 14

years old. 57.3 percent of the total population of Nepal is between the age of 15 and 64. Only 3.7 percent of Nepal Population is aged above 65.

The total median age of Nepal is 20.5 years. The Male Median age in Nepal is 20.3 years and the Female Median Age is 20.6 years.

Nepal: Religion Nepal religion is something Nepali people cannot

do without. Nepal is called the only Hindu Kingdom in the

world, but besides Hinduism, Nepal also follows several other religions.

Buddhism, Christianity and Islam are the other important religions that are practiced and preached in Nepal.

The concept of religion has a very permanent impression on the minds of the people of Nepal and is very important to the Nepali people.

Nepal: Religion/Subcultures There are two religious subcultures

within Nepal: The Tibetan, who practice Tibetan Buddhism, and the Brahman.

Nepal Values/Beliefs/Norms

Nepal is known for its rich diversity. Nepal has numerous ethnic groups

and clans, which have created cultures of their own.

There are many religions that are practiced in Nepal.

Nepal Values/Beliefs/Norms (cont…)

Music is an very important part of the cultural heritage in Nepal.

Music in all forms is appreciated and adored in the country.

Folk music is more popular in Nepal compared to the more modern music.

Indian and Tibetan music influence the music of Nepal.

Nepal Values/Beliefs/Norms (cont…) Another part of the Nepal culture lies in the

architecture. There are three main types of architectural

features that are preferred in Nepal-the pagoda style, the stupa style and the Shikhara style.

There are several temples, churches, synagogues and Buddhist monasteries in Nepal that are built based on these popular architectural styles.

Nepal Values/Beliefs/Norms (cont…) Not only just music, but dance is also very

important to the people of Nepal. The religious ceremonies that are celebrated

in the country include music and dance as an important part of their ceremonies

Religion is another important part of Nepal’s culture.

All these things amalgamated together make a rich cultural heritage of Nepal.

NEPALI TRADITION/MUSIC/DANCE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUAH

MGxByLY&feature=related--Nepali Tradition (Deepawali 2011 @ Beni, Nepal) --

Nepal: Economy Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the

world. It was listed as the eleventh poorest among

121 countries in 1989. Until 1951 Nepal had very little contact with

countries other than India, Tibet, and Britain. Movement of goods or people from one part

of the country to another usually required passage through India, making Nepal dependent on trade with or through India.

Nepal: Economy (cont…) The mountains to the north and the lack of economic

growth in Tibet meant that very little trade was possible with Nepal.

Prior to 1951, there were few all-weather roads, which made the transportation of goods difficult.

Goods were able to reach Kathmandu, Nepals capitol, by railroad, trucks, and ropeways.

For other parts of the country, these did not exist. This lack of many of these things made it hard to

expand markets and work towards economic growth.

Nepal: Economy (cont…) As a result of little trade with India in

1989, Nepal faced shortages of certain consumer goods, raw materials, and other industrial inputs, a situation that led to a decline in industrial production.

Nepal, still today, is a very poor country.

Nepal:History According to Hindu belief , the history and

development of the nepali civilization is traced back to the “age of truth”.

King Manu is said to be the first King of the world who ruled Nepal in the Age of Truth (Satya Yuga)

Nepal was known as the Land of Truth. The kings of the Solar dynasty ruled Nepal in the

Age of Truth. They are said to have contributed much to the

development of the Nepali civilization and culture.

Nepal: History (cont…) King Dushyanta of India married Shakuntala, the

adopted daughter of Kanwa Rishi of Nepal. Their son Bharat ruled over here. Then Nepal was called Mahabharat, and the

surrounding territories under the souverainty of King Bharat was called Bharat (whish is now the other name of India because of this).

The history of Nepal is very much connected to the history of the Kathmandu Valley. Since then, Nepal has been ruled by the kings of various dynasties - the Ahirs of Gopala, the Kiratas, the Lichchhavis, the Mallas and the Shahs.

What I find interesting about the culture? I find the history of Nepal to be very

interesting. There are many legends and stories of the history of Nepal.

Would I like to live in this culture/country? No. I would not like to live in Nepal

considering how poor and bad their economy is and considering that their country is not as free as the one I currently live in.

Do I prefer my own culture/country? Would I like to live some place else? I would like to travel and experience

living in a different place other than the US to better understand another culture and to gain that experience, but I do prefer my own culture. It is all that I know and am used to, and is more free than any other I know country I know of.

MY CULTURE

Sites Used: Google.com/images Google.com Ask.com Mapsofworld.com Youtube.com Yourtravelsource.com Mongabay.com